Rocol Ultraglide, Does it work for you?

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 26 July 2012 at 21:07 by Peter G. Shaw.

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26 July 2012 at 16:02 #95148
Ian P
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@ianp
I purchased a 400mL aerosol can of it a couple of years ago, have used it occasionally but am not convinced it is as good as 3-in-1 or engine oil, especially taking the price into account.

There seems to be little actual lubricant in the can, just lots of solvent and propellant. Initially after applying it to the bedways of my Boxford the movement is much improved but a few traverses later the coating dries out and the effectiveness seems to have dissipated.

Oddly I am sure that when I used some at work about 10 years ago its effect was significant and long lasting, maybe it has been reformulated to comply with some directive, (or just reformulated to increase profits!)

What would you recommend as the best balance between initial cost, lubricity, and ease of application?

Ian

Edited By Ian Phillips on 26/07/2012 16:02:54
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26 July 2012 at 16:02 #22164
Ian P
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@ianp
26 July 2012 at 16:12 #95149
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I use the "multispec" slideway oil, about £7-8 for 1lts, several of the ME suppliers do it, builds a nice film that stays there.

Always better to apply it to the oil points on the carrage than straight onto the bedways, you can see the dirty stuff being displaced around the felt as the new gets pumped in.

Maybe the solvents in the rocal spray take something away from its properties when its just in the can. Plus you are paying for the spray

J

Edited By JasonB on 26/07/2012 16:15:00
26 July 2012 at 17:12 #95151
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Reading your reply is tempting me to drill some holes in the lathe carriage so the lubricant can be applied directly to where its needed, also as you say it will then displace the old oil and dirt.

I have just read some blurb on the Rocol Ultraglide and its described as 'tenacious', considering that it costs over £22 for 400mL the only thing tenacious about it is the grip on your wallet! Normaly I have a high opinion of Rocol products too.

Ian
26 July 2012 at 17:51 #95155
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
If you are drilling holes then get some of the little button oilers to keep the dirt out, ARC do them quite cheaply.

J
26 July 2012 at 18:50 #95156
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Rocol Ultraglide X5 does everything it says on the drum, I have not used the spray and somehow I don't think I would. Around £50 for 5 litres seems to be the going price and even with an auto oiler it lasts a long time. My mill is pressure fed and I have fitted clamp on oil nipples so that I can pressure feed the carriage on a lathe.
26 July 2012 at 18:53 #95157
_Paul_
Participant
@_paul_
Never used it but I see that Rocol also sell "ROCOL ULTRAGLIDE 68" Is that the same?

If it is I wonder with a name like that if it's not some form of T68 spec slideway oil, same stuff I pay £20 a gallon for from The Baltic Oil Works in Newport.

Paul
26 July 2012 at 19:45 #95161
mgj
Participant
@mgj
I agree Kwil. You put me onto the X5 which is just the stuff in a tin. There is no doubt about it it – the cariage slides more easily when lubricated with Ultraglide, rather than SAE30. Its quite noticeable.
26 July 2012 at 20:37 #95163
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
According to the Buck & Hickman blurb, the 400ml can actually contains 300ml of the Rocol Ultraglide, at £22/can that works out to over £70/litre, or even more frightening £550 a gallon!

I know these numbers are not really relevant because there is a price penalty for putting the stuff in an aerosol (not unique to Rocol either, even bottled water is more expensive than petrol). My feelings are though that the aerosol version is just nowhere near as effective as the stuff in plain containers.

When I used the aerosol version (probably 15 years ago) its effect was dramatic by comparison with ordinary oil.

I will chuck out the aerosol and get some proper stuff, just need to find out what the difference or advantage of X5 over things like Ketan's Rock oil SAE 68.

Out of interest, (should start another thread really) what sort of oilcan tip/spout should be used with the ball type oilers? I usually press the ball down with a scriber and drip oil past it but that can't be right really.

Ian
26 July 2012 at 21:02 #95168
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
I Naievely bought some ultraglide Aerosol a few years ago… never again, complete rubbish.

I lube all my slideways with the same lube as I use in all of my machine gearboxes – equivelent to Shell Tellus T68 and it works fine. Rocol products are, in my opinion, significantly overpriced for what they are, especially for the light usage in the hobby/ME arena!

Just my 2 penneth

CB
26 July 2012 at 21:07 #95169
Peter G. Shaw
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@peterg-shaw75338
I bought a can of Rocol Ultraglide in 2005 for £10.20 & VAT & delivery, say £15 in total. I must admit that having looked at the RS website, I'm a bit shocked by the price of £20 + the extras. Fortunately at the moment, I only use it on the cross-slide and the top-slide because these do not have any other method of lubrication. It does seem to work for me.

For other lubrication I use H68 oil bought from Hallett Oils although I do know that the company has now changed hands. On my lathe there are two ball type oilers: I use a pressure type oil can, one with a small nozzle with which I push down the ball and squeeze away merrily, too merrily in fact.

I have noticed with this oil that there appears to be a permanent seepage from the oilcan. I've now tried two and have taken to keeping the oilcan in a suitable tin to hold the seepage. I then use a small brush to transfer any oil I may need. I'm not sure waht is going on, but it is almost as if this stuff is able to climb and and escape, something like water will climb up a narrow tube.

On the lathe I also have two other oil holes. The oilcan spout works in one of them, but the other, which I added, ay be a trifle too small. At anyrate, I have now taken to using a straightened out paperclip and allowing the oil to run down the wire into the hole. That way I no longer get too much in and overflowing.

The milling machine is presently in bits, and might well be for sometime yet. There is no means of lubrication on this and I was expecting to use the spray however I'm now wondering if I should perhaps add some oilers whilst I have it in bits.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw
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